Changes to Houston Sign Code

09.01.09

Winstead News Alert

On September 1, 2009, several changes to the Houston Sign Code take effect. Those changes include major restrictions on electronic signs, reductions in the allowable size of on-premise signs and elimination of roof signs.

Signs with automatically changing date, time, temperature, weather or stock market information are no longer allowed. Blinking, rotating, moving, chasing, flashing, glaring, strobe, scintillating, or spot light signs are prohibited.

Changeable message signs are restricted to one per business with location and height restrictions; size is restricted to 50% of the allocable sign face area, not to exceed 100 square feet. A changeable message sign may not change the message more often than every five minutes and must change the message within one second or less; a high technology sign may not change the message without a new permit. Daylight and night maximum brightness limits are set for signs.

Roof signs are prohibited. Wall signs are significantly restricted by size and location. Projecting signs may not extend above the roof line and downtown height restrictions are added. Signs that appear in windows in a manner visible from the right-of-way are now regulated.

The following table sets new height and size restrictions for new on-premise signs:


Contact:
David F. Staas | 713.650.2662 | dstaas@winstead.com

Disclaimer:  Content contained within this news alert provides information on general legal issues and is not intended to provide advice on any specific legal matter or factual situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute, a lawyer-client relationship. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.

People

  1. David Staas

Media Contact

Stephen Hastings
Director of Communications & Media Relations  
713.650.2485 Direct
832.343.4228 Mobile
shastings@winstead.com

Search Tips:

You may use the wildcard symbol (*) as a root expander.  A search for "anti*" will find not only "anti", but also "anti-trust", "antique", etc.

Entering two terms together in a search field will behave as though an "OR" is being used.  For example, entering "Antique Motorcars" as a Client Name search will find results with either word in the Client Name.

Operators

AND and OR may be used in a search.  Note: they must be capitalized, e.g., "Project AND Finance." 

The + and - sign operators may be used.  The + sign indicates that the term immediately following is required, while the - sign indicates to omit results that contain that term. E.g., "+real -estate" says results must have "real" but not "estate".

To perform an exact phrase search, surround your search phrase with quotation marks.  For example, "Project Finance".

Searches are not case sensitive.

back to top